Tour 56 | Christmas in Bruges 2011

Saturday 24 December to Wednesday 28 December 2011

Bruges Markt Christmas 2011 

Saturday 24th December

05.45 Coach pick up Colchester – Southway.

06.15  Coach pick up Chelmsford –  Woolpack, Mildmay Road, Chelmsford.

09.20 Eurotunnel from Folkestone.

11.00 Arrive Calais.

11.45 The first stop will be at De Verloren Gernoare (The Lost Shrimp) in Adinkerke for a welcome to Belgium beer*.

13.00 Arrive at Bistronoom for our pre-arranged bier cusine meal and beers. The restaurant is opening especially for us, courtesy of the chef, Stefanie De Vos. Her husband Christophe will then take us for a beer* at Ostend’s newest beer bar just round the corner.

16.30  Arrive at De Vlasschaard in the lovely village of Stene for a beer or two before heading off to Bruges.

18.30 Arrive at Bruges at the four star Hotel Acadamie. Copies of Podge’s Bruges Top Ten Bar Guide*and City Maps* will be distributed. Early evening free to explore Bruges. Unlike in the UK, most bars and restaurants close early on Christmas Eve but Strijdershuis, in the shadow of the belfry is open for some very good food and has more than decent beer list. Curiosa is open for food until 20.30hrs. Café Rose Red specialises in Trappist beers and is also open until 20.00hrs and De Kuppe is open until late.

Starter at lunch at Bistronoom Ostend, Christmas Eve 2011
Sunday 25th December

Christmas Morning at leisure in Bruges. You may want to take in the fabulous Ice Wonderland Sculpture Festival in marquees on the square in front of the railway station – bring your gloves!

12.00  Head off by coach to the coast and the lovely Royal seaside town of De Haan. The De Torre café has a great beer list which usually includes a Dupont beer on draught and is the venue for our prearranged meal.

16.00 Call in at Gainsbar a new bar in Kortrijk for a crack at their inspired beer list which should include some exceptional seasonal offerings.

19.30  Stop at Café OPCD in Ardooie for a beer or two and perhaps a try at some of their traditional Flemish games.

22.00ish     Return to hotel in Bruges.

Siobhan at Gasterie Ten Duinen at Koksijde

 

Monday 26th December

 10.30   Coach leaves Bruges for visits to two brand new microbreweries.

11.00    Arrive at the sylvan brewery of Urthel. This new brewery is run by the wife and husband team of Hildegard and Bas van Ostaden. Hildegard is the brewer and Bas is in charge of the marketing and is responsible for their wonderful graphic design. Not only will be get a chance to taste their beers but Hildegard will also be preparing our prearranged meal.

15.00  Arrive for a visit to our old friends at Alvinne Brewery but this time we meet them at their new brewery at Moen. We should get a chance to taste a selection of their beers. The first beer is on Podge*. There will also be some extraordinary beers for sale from their shop.

17.00  Pop round the corner to the quirky St. Pietershof café for a beer or two. You will be blown away by this café and its choice of beers. From here, we make our way back to Bruges to sample the café culture. Note: Daisy’s bar will be open after their Christmas closure.
Hildegard at de Leyerth Brewery, Ruiselede

 

Glenn at Alvinne Brewery, Moen
 

Tuesday 27th December

10.00  Leave Bruges as we turn to spiritual matters with a morning visit and Abbey beer* at Gasterie Ten Duinen at the Ten Duinen Abbey in Koksijde.

12.30  We proceed to the brewers village of Watou.

13.00  Lunch at ’t Hommelhof, one of Belgium’s finest beer cuisine restaurants. A real treat.

16.00  Off for a trip up Mont des Cats, a hill near Godewaersvelde, for a panoramic view from the monastic abbey and an opportunity to taste the newest “Trappist” beer* at the perfectly situated ancient hostelry at the summit of the hill l'Auberge au Mont des Cats.

18.00  We make our way for an early evening beer at the peaceful In De Vrede café at St Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, for a taste of their world famous beers brewed at the Abbey and a chance to buy Trappist made cheese, pate and chocolates from the Abbey shop.

We may call in at the pretty coastal town of Nieuwpoort to pay a visit to their special Christmas market including the Achouffe Fire House, run by the local Fire Brigade, selling Chouffe beer from their outdoor Chalet – so wrap up warm – or have a Hot Chouffe Coffee Liqueur! ….if we have time.

De Plukker Brewery visit December 2011
Wednesday 28th December

10.00  Set off from hotel for a visit to beer warehouse Vanuxeem at Ploegsteert for an opportunity to buy quality beers to take home.

12.30  Arrive at Herberg Boerenhol just outside Reningelst for our prebooked lunch and a view of their excellent beerlist.

15.00  Quick visit to the brand new De Plukker Brewery on the outskirts of Poperinge. We should be able to taste their very first brew from this hop farm brewery in deepest Flemish hop country.

16.00   Our last chance for a beer and snack prior to catching the train home is at Poperinge and the Oud Vlaenderen on Markt, recently reopened and run by Hop Farmer Eric Lagache and his partner Lieve. Also a chance to buy chocolates and fantastic cold meats and cheeses from the nearby Spar Shop.

18.00  Leave for Eurotunnel.

19.50  Leave Calais on Eurotunnel.

19.30  Arrive Folkestone.

20.30  Arrive Dartford Station, drop off.

21.15   Arrive Chelmsford, drop off at Mildmay Road.

22.00  Arrive Colchester, drop off.

 

All above times are local and approximate. Food, drink, passport and insurance costs are your responsibility. The items marked* are inclusive of the tour price. Have a look at the itinerary and photos of our Christmas Tours for 2009 & 2010 if you want a flavour of this fantastic way to spend Christmas. The price of this five day tour is £420 per person based on sharing a twin or double room, with a single supplement of £128 if you want a room of your own. Included in the Tour price are coach travel from Ipswich, Colchester or Chelmsford, still and sparkling water available on the coach, hotel breakfasts on Tour and brewery visits and tastings and all items marked with an asterisk. Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway) and Chelmsford (Woolpack, Mildmay Road) to Dover/Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel. Personal insurance is not included but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.